Pine Ridge Man Indicted For Assault

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly using a wooden board to assault a female at Pine Ridge on March 14, 2013.

Gordon Pourier, age 18, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 21, 2013 for assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Pourier appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on May 24, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations and Pourier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Venhuizen is prosecuting the case.

Pourier was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has been set for July 30, 2013.